Conveying mechanism.



E.- M; STHLES.

CONVEYING MECHANISM.

APPLICATlON FILED OCT. I6, 1915. 1 1 98 mg Patented Sept 19 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET i.

E. M. smis.

CONVEYING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. I6. I915.

Patented Sept. 19, $16.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2..

UNITED STATE EDWARD M. STILES, OF MOUNT PLEASANT, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO U. S. SLICING MACHINE CONVEYING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

Original application filed February 5, 1915, Serial No. 6,198. Divided and this application filed October 16,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD M. SrILEs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mount Pleasant, in the county of Henry and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Conveying Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This application is a division of my application, Serial Number 6198, filed in the United States Patent Office, February 5th, 1915, and the present invention relates more particularly to improvements in conveying mechanism, particularly adapted, though not necessarily limited in its use with meatcutting or slicing mechanism, and one of the objects of the invention is to provide an im proved conveying mechanism having impalement pins or prongs for receiving flexible thin slices from the cutter as they are out, to convey the slices over a curved surface and then in a substantially straight line into a position to bedelivered from the convcyer, the pins or prongs remaining in engagement with the slice as it is passed over the curved surface, and also during its movement in the substantially straight line, the points of the pins or prongs, or the portions thereof which are in engagement with the slice, being always maintained in such relation that the space between adjacent pins will not vary, during the entire traveling motion of the pins and conveyer.

A further object is to provide an improved machine of this character, having means for delivering the slices from the conveyer and piling them upon a collector support.

To the attainment of theseends and the accomplishment of other new and useful objects, as will appear, the invention consists in the features of novelty in substantially the construction, combinationand ar rangement of the several parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention and in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of a portion of a slicing machine, having an attachment applied thereto, constructed in accordance with the principles of this invent on. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the conveying mechanism showing the parts in another position with Serial No. 56,188.

veyer passes. Fig. 6 is an elevation ofthe.

supporting frame for the conveyer. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on line 7, '7, Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on line 88, Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates generally the supporting base of a slicing machine, having mounted thereon the usual cutter 11, and the reciprocating meat support 12, and an operating crank 13, through the ordinary and well known gear connection, operates the cutter 11 and a gear 14 with which latter gear is connected an arm 15 and this arm in turn is connected by a link 16 with the reciprocating support 12 and during the re ciprocating movement of the support 12, the supplementary support 17 is fed forwardly by means of the rotatable feed screw 18 to 2 present the meat to the cutter 11, all as are well known in this art and form no part of the present invention.

Arranged adjacent the cutter 11, is a conveyor, designated generally by the reference numeral 19 in Fig. 5 and this conveyer is supported by a frame work shown more clearly in Fig. 6, the frame work preferably comprising a base 20 and superposed spaced members-21, 22 and these members are preferably of a triangular configuration with portions cut away for the sake of lightness. The member 21 is supported above the base 20 by means of upright tubular elements 23 and the member 22 is supported above the member 21 by similar tubular elements 23, any number of which may be provided and the parts are fastened together preferably by means of tie rods or bolts 24, which pass through the members andthe tubular elements. The frame thus formed is arranged adjacent the front of the machine and in proximity to the cutter 11 so that one face of the frame will extend along the path of movement of the support 12, and arranged adjacent another face of the frame is a collector support 25, to be hereinafter described. Mounted in suitable bearings, preferably carried by the members 21, 22 are rollers 26, 27 and 28 and these rollers are preferably arranged in pairs respectively connected by upright axles '29-, 30, and 31 and the ends of these axles are journaled in suitable ball bearings One pair of rollers is preferably arranged adjacent each corner of the frame and passing over the respective series of rollers, which are spaced from each other, are endless flexible belt elements 33, 34, and these belt elements are connected by spaced upright pin carrying elements 35. The ends of these elements are offset as at 36, formed by bending the ends of the element laterally with respect to the element and the extremities of these portions 36 are again bent in a direction as at 37, to be substantially parallel with the body portion of the element, andthe extremities 37 are arranged adjacent the outer faces of the belt elements 33 to besecured thereto. The axles 29 connecting the rollers 26, 27, 28 of each pair are of a diameter considerably smaller than the diameter of the rollers so that when the flexible conveyer elements 33 are traveling, they will move the pin carrying elements 35, so that they will pass over or around the curved portion of the rolls 26 after which the elements 35 will travel in a substantially straight line. During the traveling movement of the conveyer, the spaces between the pins or prongs 38 on adjacent elements 35, will be always maintained the same, that is the distance between adjacent pins will not vary, whether the elements with their associated pins are traveling in a straight line or over the curved surface, and this is rendered pos sible because the extremities of the pins or prongs 38 are always maintained in a substantially direct straight line with the drive elements 33; 34, as shown clearly in Figs. 4 and 5, but the body portions of the elements 35 will be allowed to assume positions close together as they are passing over the curved surface. \Vith this construction it will be manifest that when the prongs or pins 39 pick up the thin flexible slice as it is cut, and convey it away from the cutter, the first movement of the slice when the pins or prongs engage it, is over a curved surface. and then in a substantiallystraight line after passing that surface. By maintaining the spaces between pins or prongs against variation at all times, and while they are in contact with the slice, it will be manifest that the slice will not become torn, stretched or distorted, but will be maintained against distortion during its movement upon the conveyer, and at all times during the movement of the conveyer.

F or the purpose of strength, rigidity and lightness, the elements 35 may be formed of sheet material, and the body portions bent .into the form shown at 39 in Fig. 5. The pins or prongs may be secured tothe element by passing them through the apex of the bent portion of the body of the element 35 and from the rear, and then fastened in any suitable manner, so that the extremities of the pins or prongs will terminate in a substantially straight and direct line between the belts or flexible elements 33, 34. Any number of these elements 35 may be provided, and in order to maintain the conveyer against a slipping movement lengthwise of the axis of rotation of the-rollers, if it is desired, flanges 40 may be provided on some of the rollers.

In the present form of the invention the conveyer elements 35 are given a forward and backward reciprocating movement, in directions substantially parallel with the direction of the reciprocating movement of the support or carriage 1'2, and this movement may be accomplished in any desired or suitable manner, such asby means of an arm 41, (see Fig. 1), which is preferably connected with the support 12 to project beyond the front edge thereof and into a slot 42 provided in an upright member 43. which latter is preferably connected with the endless elements 33, 34, so that when the support 12 is moved forwardly to effect a cutting operation of the article, the conveyer elements 35 will be correspondingly moved to receive the slice from the cutter as it is cut, and when the support 12 moves backwardly, for the next cutting operation, the conveyer elements 35 are correspondingly moved so as to receive the next slice as it is cut. The connection between the arm 41 and the conveyer is so arranged as to permit the proper operation of the conveyer and the positioning of the elements to have the slice removed from the latter in a manner to be set forth.

A scraper 44 (Fig. 1) is arranged adjacent the portion of the cutter where the cutting operation is effected and this scraper is supported in any suitable manner, preferably from the chain box l5 of the machine and supported by the'scraper is a curved guard or shield +16, which stands adjacent and in close proximity to the extremity of the teeth or prongs 38, as the latter are moving over the pulleys 26. This scraper 44 serves as a means for preventing the thin slice from adhering to the cutter and the curved guard or shield 46 serves the purpose of maintaining the slice in engagement with the prongs 38 as the latter pick up the slice and also prevents the slice from being thrown off of the conveyer during the movement of the latter, inasmuch as there is always more or less momentum, which might tend to throw the slice from the conveyer;

The shield 46 is curved as shown and is so arranged that the extremities of the prongs will travel in close proximity thereto to insure their impaling the slice and taking it away from the cutter as it is cut.

During the cutting operation, the. support 12 will be traveling toward the left in Fig.- 1 as will also the elements 35 .and as the slice is cut it will be takenup by these elements and carried away from the cutter. During this cutting operation and the receiving of the slice, the elements will travel over the curved surface formed by the rollers 26 as shown in Fig. 5, and then convey the slice in a substantially straight line and which line is formed bythe rollers 26, 28, to carry the slice into a position to be delivered upon the collector support 25, in which position, the slice is lifted from the conveyer, out of engagement with the pins or prongs 3S and delivered to the support 25. In order to effect this dumping operation of th slices, so that they will" be superposed upo the support 25, it is desirable that the conveyer be arrested momentarily in its movement, and this will always insure the delivery of succeeding slices from the conveyer at the same place upon the support. This is accomplished by taking advantage of the interval of rest which occurs in the reciprocation of the support 12 when it changes its direction of movement, or at the point where the arm 15 which is connected with the gear 14, is passing over the dead center, and the interval of rest is therefore imparted to the conveyer, inasmuch as the conveyer is connected with the support 12 and its movement is responsive to the. movement of the support 12.

To remove the slices from the conveyer, there is shown what might be termed a fly 47 having a body portion and a series of fingers 48. This fly is mounted for rocking movement by means of a suitable bearing 49, secured preferably to the member 21 of the supporting frame, and the fingers 48 extend between the pins or prongs 38 in directions lengthwise of the conveyer, and terminate adjacent the rollers 26, and the extremities of the fingers are. curved or bent as at 50 to permit the slices carried by the conveyer to pass over the extremities of the fingers. These fingers are. arranged adjacent the base of the prongs or pins, preferably in close proximity to the body portion 39 of the elements 35 and some distance from the extremities of the pins. In order that the fingers will assume this position with respect to the prongs, the end of the body of the fly adjacent the bearing 49 is bent or offset as at 51, to conform to the contour of the elements During the interval of rest of the conveyer. the fly 47 is rocked about its pivot 49 into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. at to dump the slice upon the collector support 24, and after this dumping operation, the fly is returned to its normal position in any suitable manner such as by means ofa spring 52, (see Fig.2). This dumping or rocking movement of the fly may be effected in any suitable manner, but a simple and eflicient means utilizes the gear 14, upon which is provided a .cam portion 53 so arranged that as the arm 15 is passing over the dead center, this cam 53, or the high portion thereof, will engage an arm 5% on a rock shaft 55, the latter being mounted in suitable bearings 56 and having connected therewith an upright 57 which is in turn connected bymeans of a suitable link 58 with the fly as at 59, and the cam 53 will rock the fly against the tension of the spring 52. Thus it will be seen that as the slice is cut, it will be taken up by the conveyer and carried away from the cutter into a position to be delivered upon the collector support 25, and when the conveyer with the slice thereon reaches this position, it will be momentarily arrested in its motion, and during this interval of rest, the cam 53 will operate the fly to remove the slice from the conveyer and deposit it upon the collector support. After the slice has been thus de-' livered, the cam will pass out of engagement with the arm 54 and the fly will resume its normal position, and the conveyer and support 12 will be moved back to their starting positions as soon as the arm 15 passes over the dead center, to cut and convey away another slice to be similarly delivered to the collector support 25 and superposed upon the slice last delivered to the support 25.

Unless provision is made to compensate for the increasing size of the stack of slices on the support 25, it will be manifest that the slices would not be piled properly; there fore, the collector support 25 in the present form of the invention comprises a platform upon which the slices are delivered and this platform has depending therefrom a plurality of uprights 60, any number of which maybe provided, and these uprights have heads 61 provided on the free extremities thereof and telescope into tubular uprights G2, which latter are formed with shoulders 63 to prevent the disengagement of the uprights 60 from the tubular members 62.

Springs 64, any number of which may be provided, are arranged beneath the platform 25, and tend normally to elevate the latter, and these springs are of such a strength that the platform 25 will be lowered by the operation of the fly 47 in delivering the slice on to the platform, and the springs may be so proportioned that the platform will be lowered upon each operation, toan extent equal to the thickness of the slice that is delivered thereto. In order to retain the platform in its adjusted position during the stacking operation, one of the uprights 60, may be provided with a series of teeth 65, and a dog or pawl 66 is pivotally mounted upon the upright 62 to engage the teeth 65 as-ithe platform is loweredand when it is desired to elevate the platform, all that is necessary is to trip the dog to disengage it from the teeth 65.

out departing from the spirit of this invention. It is also to be understood that the term fly as used in the specification and claims of this case is to be considered in its broadest interpretation, that is, to mean any mechanism for lifting or dumping or even conveying the slices from the receiver or carrier and depositing them upon the collector support.

What is claimed as new is:

1. Conveying mechanism for conveying thin flexible slices over a curved surface and then in a substantially straight line, and for maintaining the 'slice against stretching during such operation, said mechanism embodying traveling teeth or prongs having simultaneous engagement with the slice, and provisions for always maintaining the teeth or prongs the same distance apart, while in engagement with the slice.

2. Conveying mechanism for conveying thin flexible slices over a curved surface and then in a substantially straight line, and for maintaining the slice against stretching during such operation, said mechanism embodying traveling teeth or prongs having simultaneous engagement with the slice, and provisions for always maintaining the teeth or prongs the same distance apart, while in engagement with the slice, said teeth or prongs after once engaging the slice, remaining in engagement therewith during the entire time that the slice is on the conveyer.

3. A conveyer for flexible thin slices embodying a driving element, a curved surface over which said element travels, a plurality of teeth or prongs connected with said element and spaced from each other in the direction of travel of the element, and means for supporting the teeth or prongs so that their slice engaging portions will be always maintained in a substantially straight line with the said driving element.

4. Conveying mechanism for flexible slices,

said mechanism embodying a flexible toothed conveyer element movable over a curved surface during a portion of its operation, and provisions for maintaining the distance between the slice engaging portion of the teeth against variation during the passage of the teeth over said curved surface.

5. Conveying mechanism for flexible slices,

' said mechanism embodying a reciprocating flexible toothed conveyer element movable over a curved surface during a portion of its operation, and provision for maintaining the distance between the slice engaging portions of the teeth against variation during the entire operation of the conveying mechanism.

6. Conveying mechanism for flexible slices, said mechanism embodying a flexible driving element, a curved surface over which the element passes during 'a portion of its operation, prong carrying elements connected with the first said element and movable over said surface, said prong carrying elements being spaced longitudinally of the driving element, and provisions for always maintaining the spaces between the points of adjacent prongs against variation during the operation of the conveyer;

7. Conveying mechanism for flexible slices, said mechanism embodying a flexible element, a curved surface over which said element passes during a portion of its travel, prong carrying members connected with the said element and spaced from each other in the direction of travel of the element, said members being shaped to maintain the spaces between the active portions of the prongs against variation at all points in the mentfa curved surface over which said element passes during a portion of its travel.- prong carrying members connected with the said element and spaced from each other in the direction of travel of the element, said members being shaped to hold the active portions of the prongs in direct line with the said element.

9. Conveying mechanism for flexible slices, said mechanism embodying a flexible element, a curved surface over which said element passes during a portion of its travel, prong carrying members connected with the said element and spaced from each other in the direction of travel of the element, said members being shaped to maintain the active portions of the prongs in direct line with the periphery of the said curved surface during their passage around such surface.

10. Conveying mechanism embodying a traveling flexible element, a roller over which theelement moves during a portion of its travel, and impalement prongs connected with said element, the body of the prongs being disposed on that side of the element adjacent the axis of rotation of the roller, and the ends of the prongs being disposed adjacent the periphery of the roller during the passage of the adjacent portion of said element over the roller.

11. Conveying mechanism embodying a traveling flexible element, a roller over which the element moves during a portion of its travel, impalement pins connected to and moving with said element, and provisions for maintaining the active ends of the pins in direct line with the flexible element and in substantial alinement with the periphery ofthe roller during the passage of the pins about the roller.

12. Conveying mechanism embodying spaced flexible elements, rollers over which the elements pass during a portion of their operation, spaced pin carrying members connected with the elements, impalement pins projecting from the members, said membersbeing so shaped that portions thereof will stand within the periphery of the rollers during their passage around the roller, and to hold the extremities of the pins in substantial alinement with the flexible members 13. Conveying mechanism embodying spaced flexible elements, rollers over which the elements pass during a portion of thei operation, spaced pin carrying members con nected with the elements, impalement pins projecting from the members, said members being so shaped that portions thereof will stand within the peripheries of the rollers during their passage around the roller, and to hold the extremities of the pins in sub stantial alinement with the flexible members, the spaces between the active portions of the pins on adjacent members being held against variation during the entire travel of the flexible elements. I

.14. Conveying mechanism embodying -flexible traveling element, a roller over which said element passes during .a portion of its travel, spaced members connected with the element, prongs projecting from said members, a portion of said members extending some distance to one side of the element and in a direction toward, the axis of rotation of the roller, and impalement prongs projecting from the said portion of the members toward and terminating in alinement with the flexible" element.

15. Conveying mechanism. embodying a flexible traveling element, a curved surface over which the element passes during a portion of its travel, and impalement prongs connected with the element, spaced longitudinally thereof and movable by said element about said surface, the bodies of the prongs, during their passage about said surface, being disposed on that side of the surface opposite to that adjacent which the flexible member moves, and the active ends of the prongs being disposed adjacent the side of the surface opposite to the side adjacent which their body portions are arranged.

16. Conveying mechanism embodying spaced alined traveling flexible elements movable over a curved'surface during a portion of their traveling movement, spaced members connected with said elements and extending across the space therebetween, portionsof said members projecting laterally to one side of and beyond the inner face of said elements, and impalement prongs carried by the members and projecting laterally therefrom toward and terminating between theelements and in substantial alinement with the said elements.

17 Conveying mechanism embodying spaced alined traveling flexible elements movable over a curved surface duringa portion of their traveling movement, spaced members connected with said elements and extending across the space. therebetween, portions of said members projecting laterally to one side of and beyond the inner faces of said elements, and impalement the slice engaging portions of adjacent pins vagainst variation during their entire traveling movement.

19. Conveying mechanism for thin flexible slices, embodyinga series of spaced flexibly connected pins for penetrating the slice, means for operating the pins to cause them to convey the slice over a curved surface during a portion of its travel-and then in a substantially straight line, and provisions for varying the spaces between the inactive ends of the prongs during their passage about the said curved surface, while the spaces between the active ends of the prongs remain constant during the entire travel of the prongs.

In testimony whereof I have, signed my name to this specification, in the presence 'of two subscribing witnesses,.on this 12th day of October, A. D. 1915.

EDWARD M. STI-LES.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM R. BUDDE, THoMAs H. S'nLEs. 

